Cuba Finishes 3rd in Pan Am Baseball
by Circles Robinson
HAVANA TIMES, Oct. 26 — Cuba salvaged a bronze medal in Pan American Games baseball on Tuesday with a 6-0 win over Mexico. In the gold medal game, Canada upset the USA 2-1.
The results provided two noteworthy changes: The Cubans had won every Pan American Games baseball tournament since 1963 and the Canadians had never won.
After giving up 28 runs in four games, the Cuban pitchers finally had a solid day shutting out Mexico.
Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez went 6.2 innings scattering seven hits while striking out six and walking one.
Yadier Pedroso came on to pitch the final 2.1 innings allowing one hit, a walk and striking out one.
Mexico’s starter Walter Silva took the loss allowing Cuba’s first three runs in the first and second innings.
Five of Cuba’s runs came on homers from Jose Dariel Abreu and Alfredo Despaigne, each with one runner on base and a solo shot by Yulieski Gourriel. Rudy Reyes had his second consecutive three hit game and drove in Cuba’s other run.
In the gold medal game between Canada and the USA, the favorites, who defeated Cuba 12-10 on Monday, got off to a 1-0 lead on a first inning RBI double by Brett Carrol. Meanwhile the only Canadian scoring came in the sixth, but the two runs proved enough.
Andrew Albers got the win going 6.2 innings allowing six hits and a run while striking out eight. Scott Richmond picked up the save hurling 2.1 innings of hitless ball and striking out three.
For the USA the loser was starter Andrew Van Hekken who in 7.0 innings allowed Canada’s two runs on four hits while striking out six.
Who says that we can only play Hockey. Take that USA